Our Consultants

Asmaa Awad is a second year Honors student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn majoring in Finance. This is also her second year working at the Writing Center as a Writing Consultant. Asmaa's previous experience in tutoring includes Freshman Focus, a high school program where juniors and seniors tutor struggling freshman in all subjects. She was also a bilingual teacher's assistant at Beechview Elementary school, where she assisted ESL Elemantary school Japanese students learn to read and write English. Asmaa is the Treasurer of the UMD Student Government as well as the Appropriations Commmittee chairwoman. She also sits on the University Budget Committee and is a member of the Pre-law co-ed Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. She is bilingual in English and Arabic, and is currently pursuing her sixth year in learning French. Asmaa's hobbies inlcude traveling, reading, music, and writing.

Paul Ewald is a junior in the honors program majoring in history and political science.  He plans to graduate in April of 2009 and immediately enter into law school pursing a degree in international law. Paul’s dream is to one day work for the United Nations. Paul is currently a member of the history honors society Phi Alpha Theta and the international scholastic honors society Golden Key. Paul worked for several years tutoring first and second grade students having difficulty learning how to read. Paul also worked in the special education department of his middle and high schools helping physically and mentally handicapped children learn how to read and write. Paul firmly believes that good writing skills are an asset in all careers. He is eager to work with anyone with a desire to learn. He is a firm believer that cooperation and mutual respect work for the benefit of all parties involved. 

Carl Garfield is a fun guy; he takes delight in writing (especially in third person) poetry, short stories and even critical analyses of various works. Carl enjoys long walks on the beach while reciting his own poetic works to the gaping, distant horizontal axis of the earth. Carl is obsessed with the ocean, hence his love for beaches. Above all else, Carl enjoys helping people. He feels that helping people makes him a better person and is one of the few things humans can do to feel more humane. Carl does not like to see his fellow peers struggle at something so beautiful as writing, so he dedicates much of his time and effort to helping others reach their maximum potential in penmanship, with hopes that they will find their own appreciation for writing. Carl believes that people only hate writing when they cannot understand the beauty of it for themselves, and this is why Carl aims to help others see the beautiful things that writing has to offer.

My name is Melissa Hilton and I am currently in my third year of study at the University of Michigan in Dearborn. I am in the Honors Program pursuing a major in Biological Sciences with minors in Anthropology and Women’s Studies. Besides my job here at the Writing Center, I also work at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center as a certified Nurse Assistant. In my experience working at the hospital the need for a diverse and ample donated blood supply is highlighted, which is why I also volunteer with the Red Cross at various blood drives around the state of Michigan -- remember, you can donate once every 56 days! I am active on campus as President of Hellenic Student Association and Secretary of Orthodox Christian Fellowship. Writing encompasses all aspects of life and being able to express yourself through written word is one of the most enjoyable academic experiences out there. Although my background is mostly scientific, I thoroughly enjoy writing and am here to help you learn to enjoy writing as well.

My name is Nusrat Hossain. I was raised in New York City and only moved to Michigan a couple years ago. I am in my second year at UM-D and am majoring in English and Anthropology. I am also active on campus  with several student organizations and currently my friend and  I are trying to open a UM-D chapter for One, an organization that  fights poverty. Although I am not completely sure what I want to do  with my degree (something that's making my parents very, very nervous and has them thinking I might end up living in a box.), I do know I want to write. I believe that life will lead you where you let it and I have no intention of letting it lead me to a life of monotony.

Nabila Ikram was born in Macon, GA and moved to Michigan about nine years ago. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, School of Education, studying Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies as an Elementary Education major. She plans to continue her education after she receives her bachelor’s degree. In addition to classes, she is President of the Student Environmental Association and the Education Chair of the Muslim Students’ Association. Before joining the Writing Center staff, she worked at the Environmental Interpretive Center as a Program Leader where she led science programs for K-12 students of various backgrounds. Throughout high school, she was active in peer-tutoring in a variety of subjects including biology, U.S. history, and English composition. She also volunteered part-time as a librarian’s assistant for a children’s summer reading program at the Southfield Public Library. Nabila is dedicated to teaching and learning and firmly believes that every person is a life-long student, and that in one way or another, we all learn from each other on an everyday basis.

Brandon James is a Junior, majoring in English and minoring in German and psychology. He is also going for secondary certification at the School of Education.  His primary interests are creative writing, literary theory, and medieval literature and history. He describes his writing style as minimalist and his main aspiration in life is to be a published novelist of moderate success and to eventually live in the countryside and watch birds and squirrels. When there's no writing or homework to be done, he watches cartoons or plays computer games.

My name is Asma Khan and I'm a Senior at UMD. My concentration is Elementary Education- my major is math and minor is language arts. I'm really excited to graduate and to actually have a classroom of my own. Along with working at the Writing Center, I also work at a Kumon tutoring center, where I work one on one with children of all ages. In my free time (which I don't get much of as a senior), I like to spend time with my family and friends, and just relax in any way possible.

My name is Mishelle Khan. I am a senior this year, and I have a major in English and a minor in Spanish. I graduated from the Honor's Program at UM-Dearborn. I am Pakistani and Muslim. I speak English, Spanish, and Urdu; I can read Arabic. I have always loved to write and read, ever since I was a young child. I have volunteered at nursing homes, and have tutored both elementary and high schoolers in reading and English. This is my second year working at the Writing Center, and I absolutely love helping people!

My name is Susan Millington, and I am a senior in the School of Management majoring in business marketing. For as long as I can remember, I've had an interest in world cultures and linguistics. My favorite genre of reading material is non-fiction with historical fiction a close second. In addition to my school career, I'm also the mother of three children; two are in college and my youngest is a fifth grader. They are my inspiration for furthering my education. We all possess the capacity to teach as well as to learn. Education is a lifelong journey; it never ends.